Dana Bash Issues Disclaimer That CNN ‘Does Not Hate America’ After Trump Wrecks Them at Bukele Meeting

Veteran anchor Dana Bash was forced to issue a somber and slightly irritated disclaimer that CNN does not hate America after President Trump suggested otherwise at an Oval Office meeting Monday afternoon with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.

Bash, looking for outside commentary from the network's Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny regarding alleged "misinformation" delivered at the presser, paused to address a specific dig the President took at CNN.

"Before I get to you, I just want to say for the record, since we heard President Trump say in the Oval Office that CNN hates our country," Bash said. "CNN does not hate our country."

"That should go without saying," she added, clearly recognizing that it needed to be said. "I’ve been here for 32 years, and I see a rhetorical device in him trying to—to say such a thing.”

CNN is BIG MAD about Trump saying they hate our country, which they do. https://t.co/NvWaSP7pOd pic.twitter.com/zCdU7jR4ac
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 14, 2025

There is, of course, an ongoing perception amongst conservatives that CNN is anti-American, primarily when their candidate of choice does not reside in the White House.

Under Trump's two terms, their reporting has been relentlessly biased or overly critical of American policies, values, or leadership. Not so much when Joe Biden was in office. Their complete lack of curiosity regarding the many scandals that plagued the Biden administration for four years proved that.

For instance, CNN's Chief White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, disappeared for four years before resurfacing in the briefing room on the day of Trump's second inauguration.

As RedState reporter Teri Christoph points out, Trump had a field day blasting Collins during the Bukele meeting, noting that "nobody watches you anymore" and "you have no credibility."

The former is accurate when using relative numbers, and the latter is correct based on reality.

TRUMP: "Let’s hear the question from this very low-rated anchor from CNN." pic.twitter.com/hpAQ1EfeVA
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 14, 2025

While Trump had multiple officials and Bukele himself take shot after shot at Collins, his own comment forced Bash to issue a disclaimer that, 'Hey, no guys, we really do love America.'

The El Salvadoran president pointed out that the American legacy media has gone radio silent on favorable coverage of the secure border, something a vast majority of the population wanted Trump to deliver.

Bukele: "What you're doing with the border is remarkable. It's dropped, what, 95%?"

Trump: "As of this morning, 99.1% to be exact."

Bukele: "Why are those numbers not in the media?"

Trump: "CNN over here doesn't want to put them out. I think they hate our country, actually." pic.twitter.com/PDOJbymavs
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 14, 2025

“Actually, what you’re doing with the border is remarkable. It has dropped, what, 95%? It’s incredible,” Bukele told Trump. "Why are those numbers not in the media?”

Trump gently corrected his counterpart by saying the percentage was actually higher before laying into CNN.

“Well, they get out with the fake news, you know, like CNN. CNN over here doesn’t want to put them out because they don’t like putting out good numbers," he said.

"I think they hate our country, actually,” added Trump.

Who is right? Trump or Bash?

Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie.

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